Hello Everyone! As summer comes to an end we can feel the changes signaling autumn’s arrival. Kids are going back to school, leaves are changing colors, and crisp breezes are blowing through the air. The changing seasons always signal the end of one type of adventure and the beginning of another, so we have two articles chock full of information to help you adjust to these changes.

Stephanie Tingle’s "Aromatherapy for Autumn" teaches us how to combine crystals with scents for maximum benefit. From ideas that bring seasonal changes indoors to helpful school year suggestions (like combining Lavender with Blue Calcite and Yellow Calcite to calm nerves), her article blends different therapies together to help us on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Exploring Your World with Crystals" by Stephanie Arnold reminds us of the joys and adventures exploration brings. Exploration isn’t limited to the physical world; it also encompasses all of the realms beyond what we can see with the naked eye. So whether we’re traveling to another county, country, or realm, we’ll want to bring crystals like Black Tourmaline and Hematite to ensure safe travels.

With autumn’s arrival comes a multitude of changes and opportunities to learn and grow. Let’s take a breath, pick up a Carnelian to bolster our spirits, and move forward through these transitions with fortitude and grace.

The Healing Crystals Team

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Exploring Your World With Crystals

By Stephanie Arnold

Deep within ourselves lies an explorer waiting to set out with a compass and explore the great unknown that lies beyond the backyard fence. A part of our human nature, so many people have this drive within them to check out the world around them and what lies beyond the horizon. All past cultures have their Explorers that they turned to, to guide them to the unknown, be it by camel, boat, horse or on foot. While your travels may not be quite this big, even a vacation to a new area can feel like a new voyage to the unknown. As you set out on your own expeditions, take your crystals along to support you on the journey.

Crystals are a great compliment when you are following your inner explorer. To spark your adventurous spirit, try wearing a Carnelian necklace or pendant to bring out your playful side and help you to live in the moment. Yellow Jasper will protect you on all your travels and Black Tourmaline will ward off any negative energy, thoughts or feelings. Blue-green Chrysocolla can help to ease any anxiety you may have about your journey. Of course, always pack some Citrine and Sunstone to help bring happiness and joy to all your travels, and bright sunny energy to your days.

Because you will be taking your crystals along for the journey, you will want to make sure they are protected from all the bumpy roads along the way. Be certain you have everything packed up securely to avoid any chips, fractures or breaks. Velvet pouches are a great way to separate crystals and prevent them from hitting against each other during travel. They can also be wrapped in a soft cloth to protect them. Another suggestion is to use plastic cases that are sold at most hardware stores. While these may be designed for nuts and bolts, they work great for Agates and Quartz and the separate compartments are especially great for fragile and softer crystals. Some divided boxes like this are also available at craft stores.

Even though you are out on the road, your crystals are still picking up energies and will need to be cleared. If your crystals are put through an x-ray machine or other security device, such as those at the airports, it’s advisable to clear them before using them again. It can be difficult to clear the energy of your crystals when you are away from home, especially for those who like to smudge. You may not always be in the opportune place for lighting up your sage, especially if you are staying in a smoke-free room. A Tuning Fork or other sound clearing is a great way to clear your crystals easily anywhere. It works for all crystals and is clean and easy to use. This YouTube video can be played to clear your crystals too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6lrHDMiQu8&list=TLJfDNL5QikeA. Another method that is easy to do while traveling is to hold the crystals under running water. Be careful as this method should only be used with crystals that are not fragile or easily damaged. As always, using Reiki, brilliant white light, or other healing energy will also clear your crystals. The intention to clear the energy is what really counts!

Not all travel requires you leaving home. Astral Travel or other similar out-of-body experiences can allow you to journey without ever leaving home. In The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall, she defines Astral Travel as "the soul being able to leave the physical body behind and travel to distant locations." If this is the kind of exploring and traveling you seek, crystals can be a useful tool to help you find your way. Ametrine, Celestite, and Rutilated Quartz can all help facilitate Astral Travel; add a piece of Hematite to protect you on these spiritual journeys. Clear Quartz is also good for assisting with Astral Travel.

Explorers today are still seeking and finding new types of crystals - even some ancient crystals that have disappeared for years, only to be recently rediscovered. Explorers have located some crystal skulls that were used in ancient times and were created in a way that cannot be duplicated today. These amazing skulls hold incredible power and have remarkable healing abilities. One of these is the famous Mitchell-Hedges Skull that was found in 1923 in a Mayan city. Another amazing recent crystal discovery is the Giant Crystal Cave in Mexico that is home to the largest natural Selenite crystals in the world. This cave was first located in 2000. In these amazing and enlightening times, there are new types of crystals continually being found. Some crystals that only recently showed up are Larimar (rediscovered in 1916), Tanzanite (1967), Nuumite (1982), Kunzite (1902), Pietersite (1962), and Danburite (1839). I know this Crystal Girl is looking forward to any new discoveries!

Whether traveling across the world or across the street, keep your crystal buddies nearby to support you along the way. Now, get out there and enjoy exploring your world!

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AROMATHERAPY FOR AUTUMN

By Stephanie Tingle

As autumn approaches, it brings with it shorter days and cooler nights. This makes it the perfect time to experiment with warming essential oils, such as cinnamon, clove, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper. One of my favorite combinations contains cassia (cinnamon), clove, and sweet orange essential oils. It just smells like Autumn to me! You can diffuse this blend or add a few drops of each oil to an oil burner and let the scent fill your home. You can also mix these oils into a water-based spray. When doing this, I like to add some Moss Agate chips or small tumbled stones to the bottle. Moss Agate is a stone of rebirth, and is great to use during seasonal changes.

Autumn also means the start of the school year for those with school-aged children, or for those who recently returned to school as students or teachers. This can usher in seemingly endless rounds of colds and sniffles. Lemon Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Lavender essential oils are naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, so stock up on these oils! An added bonus of keeping Lavender oil on hand is that it is very calming and can help homework time go much more smoothly, especially when paired with Blue Calcite or Yellow Calcite. Try keeping your bottle of Lavender oil in a dish of Amethyst chips or tumbled stones to keep it charged with extra healing energy.

Autumn is also a great time to work on grounding your energy. The energy of summer is very relaxed but that can sometimes lead to a feeling of disorganization. Autumn is a great time to reign things back in and get projects underway. Try using a blend of Lavender, Atlas Cedarwood, and Frankincense essential oils to bring in focus and motivation. I like to combine this blend with the energy of Fluorite, since it is great for helping to stay organized and mentally sharp.

I, for one, am looking forward to the promise of cooler weather and the calmer, more organized days…Autumn is my favorite season!